Home / Academics / Programs / Major / Spanish Education
Spanish Education
If you’re passionate about Spanish and teaching, the Spanish Education major prepares you to inspire the next generation of language learners. This program leads to a State of Illinois Professional Educator’s License in Spanish education, qualifying you to teach world languages from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. With a strong foundation in Spanish language, culture, literature, and linguistics—combined with hands-on teaching experiences—you’ll graduate ready to make an impact in classrooms.
Experiential Learning
As a Spanish Education major, you’ll develop advanced language skills, a deep understanding of Spanish culture and linguistics, and the tools to effectively teach a second language. Your hands-on learning experiences may include:
- Study abroad opportunities for a semester or during January and May Interim terms in destinations like Costa Rica, Peru, and Spain.
- Conversation tables to practice speaking Spanish in a casual, immersive setting.
- Community engagement projects working with Peoria’s Spanish-speaking population.
- Classroom experiences that blend liberal arts learning with real-world teaching practice.
- Critical thinking development, helping you analyze and communicate cultural perspectives effectively.
Program Details
Career Opportunities
Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and skilled language educators are in high demand. With a Spanish Education degree, you’ll be prepared to teach Spanish in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms. Graduates can find opportunities in:
- Bilingual and dual-language education
- Curriculum development
- Educational administration
- Language tutoring and immersion programs
- International teaching opportunities
Minors
Explore the French-speaking world through language, culture, history, literature, and film. You’ll build speaking and writing skills in class while engaging in conversation tables, the French Club, and study abroad programs.
Open to all students, this minor pairs well with business, communication, psychology, sociology, computer science, and other world languages.
Enhance your Spanish language skills while exploring the diverse cultures, literature, and film of the Spanish-speaking world. Engage in conversation tables, the Spanish Club, and study abroad opportunities to practice your skills in real-world settings.
Open to all students, this minor pairs well with majors like business, communication, psychology, sociology, international studies, and other world languages.
The Spanish Minor for the Professions affords students valuable language and cultural skills for a variety of professional fields, such as health care, business and social work. Students will build proficiency in Spanish in the classroom as well as get experience working with the local Hispanic community.
Gain valuable language and cultural skills for the global business world. You’ll build Spanish proficiency through business-focused courses and study abroad, where native speakers teach you industry-specific language skills. Ethics and morality are important not only because of their possible benefits to your career, but also because they are essential to being a human being. The Ethics minor places emphasis on the academic study of ethics and values. The goal is to afford the student with the opportunity to analyze the foundations, the background, and consequences of our moral behavior.